Is my Speckled Sussex show quality?

[lillypurrs23]

I have a Speckled Sussex, Nellie, and I was just curious whether she is show quality. Her pictures won first place in the local fair. She just turned 1 last week.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Hi, In a few minutes will send you a PM about what I see with your SS.

 

[Illia]

I need to see a side profile pic to tell, but likely no. At a 4-H yes, at a show judging by the standard - No, sorry. But that's only judging by the photos shown.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Okay.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Okay.

 

[snowbird]

Quote:
Narrow back and very narrow by tail, should be wideto the tail.

Pinched tail

Twisted Comb, wave in front of comb

Base color ok

High tail

Chest could be wider

Leg color looks good

The spangles are mostly smears and not spangles.

There is no reason you can not show and do ok, unless there is a lot of comtetition and then the faults would be taken into consideration.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Thank you, I would of never known that!
How about this Speckled Sussex?

 

[Illia]

Again the comb issue, too little white, bird has severely curled toes, slightly pinched tail, and another thing I'm not sure you know but is very likely - The girls both are underweight.


Hatchery hens are almost always moderately to severely under the weight for their breed standard. Since hatcheries breed solely for production, that means sacrificing a LOT of other qualities.

 

[lillypurrs23]

Yep, her and one of our others has a curled toe. They're underweight? Really? Even though they're only 1 year old? She's the heaviest one, too. That's weird.

 

[Illia]

I said they're likely underweight.

Weigh them and find out. Sussex are supposed to be pretty big birds, my imported girls are ENORMOUS, but the American version, though differs, is still pretty big. I've yet to see hatchery Sussex that are broad enough and big enough.